[tluyben2]

But 2000kcal is already well below a male doing normal things during the day; so 2000 + gym with weights would drop that completely out. When I do weights I try to shoot for around 2500 which already sucks compared to what I was used to (which does affect performance but it feels the same so I think overall I benefit?). But when just doing cardio I can go well below 2000 on a day or just not eat at all (only tea + water) and feel sharp, I just choose not to and just do days without any food.

I cannot imagine doing every day below 2000 and then going to the gym indeed. That would definitely not be productive and painful, but doing days of weights with 2500 max, other days around 2000 and then some days 0 works fine for me.

[rubber_duck]

Yea going really low calories and working out is really nasty - you visibly start shaking during practice and start feeling really strange - I'm guessing from lack of blood sugar. Will not be doing that in the future.

I'm trying something along those lines this month - I eat maintenance calories and work out over the week (~3000) and then I eat ~1000 on the weekend (mostly from coffe/milk/protein shake), but I want to do side projects on the weekend - sometimes I can get in the zone and food doesn't even get on my mind, other times I just feel like doing nothing when I haven't eaten.